Switch means



Sept. 4, 1962 R. H. KOENIG swI'rcH MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1960 FIGS INVENTOR.

ROBERT H. KOEN l G United States Patent 3,052,772 SWITCH MEANS Robert H. Koenig, Cambria Heights, N.Y., assignpr to Tapeswitch Corporation of America, Cambrla Heights,

Filed Aug. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 50,455 2 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-61.08)

This invention relates to switch means and more particularly to such means comprising a round cable-like continuous switch which is expendable.

The present switch is designed as an expendable or one-use detector switch, for instance for laying across a roadway to detect a vehicle and operate utilization apparatus.

The present switch is designed to be coiled in long lengths like cable without short-circuiting and may be cut to any desired length.

More particularly the invention comprises a pair of helical spiral wires which are wound coaxially and interlaced in non-contacting position, the two spirals being parallel. The two spiral wires are held in position by means of an insulating tape and have an outer jacket of rubber or other weatherproof material similar to a convenient cable covering. The switch may be made in convenient lengths like cable and coiled on reels so that it may be out in the field to any particular length.

In operation, the switch may be laid across a roadway or path to detect a vehicle. The weight of the vehicle will smash the wires together, thereby closing a circuit to connected utilization apparatus, for instance alarms or possibly mines. Plugs are provided for plugging up the open ends of the cable switch to protect the switch from moisture or foreign material.

The switch is an expendable item and is used only once since the wires are designed to be smashed together by the weight of the vehicle and will not regain a non-contact position.

Accordingly a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved switch means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved expendable switch means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved switch means for detecting a vehicle on a roadway.

Another object of the invention is to provide switch means adapted to be actuated by vehicles on a roadway which may be connected to actuate utilization apparatus.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view illustrating the use of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating one method of manufacturing the invention.

Referring to the figures the invention comprises a pair of spirally wound wires or fiat conductors 1 and 2 which are wound in helical spiral fashion together so that they are coaxial but spaced so that they do not contact. The wires or flat conductors 1 and 2 are held in the coaxial, interposed, non-contacting position by means of an ad hesive insulating covering 3 which may be an insulating tape wound over the spiral conductors. The outer weatherproof jacket 4 of rubber or other conventional cable covering is then extruded or otherwise formed on the cable switch of the present invention.

The present cable switch is preferably made in convenient lengths like cable so that it may be wound on a reel and cut to length in the field without short-circuiting the conductors. A plug 5 is preferably provided to plug 3,052,172 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 up each open end of the cable switch to keep water or other foreign material from entering the inner space.

FIG. 2 shows a typical installation. The cable switch 6 is cut to a desirable length, each end may be pegged to the ground with holding stakes 7, 7' and the switch may be laid across the roadway 8 and connected to utilization apparatus 10. The open ends of the cable switch are preferably plugged up with plugs 5.

In operation, the weight of a vehicle passing over the switch will smash the conductors together in a permanent manner, thereby establishing a circuit to actuate the utilization apparatus which may be a warning device or which may be devices such as mines.

FIGURE 3 shows one method of manufacturing the present invention. The conductors 1 and 2 are wound in spaced relation around a short mandrel 11 preferably with automatic coil winding apparatus which is outside the scope of the present invention. The insulating tape 3 is preferably wound around the conductors 1 and 2 before they leave the mandrel. The assembly is continuously pulled off the open end of the mandrel so that convenient lengths of the switch may be made, for instance it may be made in lengths or even longer. The outer weatherproof jacket 4, which may be of rubber or other conventional cable covering material, may then be extruded on the switch assembly in conventional manner similar to the manufacture of cables.

The plugs 5 are designed to fit into the open ends of the cable switch and are preferably of rubber or other insulating material which will not absorb moisture.

The cable switch of the present invention may be made in various sizes and maybe made quite small, for instance as small as A1" in diameter. Due to the construction the cable switch may be coiled for convenient handling on reels and may be laid over irregular contours without short circuiting. However, if a relatively heavy weight is pressed on the cable switch such as by a vehicle or by the weight of a person the conductor wires 1 and 2 will be smashed together making a utilization circuit. The conductors 1 and 2 may be of conventional plated or bare copper wire and are preferably not too flexible as it is desired to have them remain in the smashed position, establishing a continuous circuit.

The present switch is expendable as the wires will not regain their original position after being smashed into contact with one another.

Many modifications may be made by those desiring to practice the present invention, for instance various types of wires and insulating materials may be used and the device may be made of various sizes for particular uses without departing from the scope of the present invention which is defined by the following claims.

Various other uses may occur to those desiring to practice the invention as the present switch may be used in many different arrangements for detection purposes. For instance, it may be laid in patterns either above or; below the ground or along fences, on top of fences, along curb lines and in any other place where it is desired to detect the application of force upon the switch either by a vehicle, a passerby or other things. The switch may be also used as a safety device, for instance around the borders of dangerous areas such as construction projects or piers and in many other applications.

I claim:

1. Switch means comprising a first helical spiral wire, a second helical spiral wire coaxial with said first spiral wire, said second spiral wire being interposed between turns of said first spiral wire in non-contacting position, and insulating means covering the outside of said spiral wires and holding said spiral wires in said interposed position, said wires and insulation means being of nonresilient material which will provide a permanent elec- 3 4 trical contact even after the deforming pressure is wires and insulation means being of non-resilient materemoved. rial which will provide a permanent electrical contact 2. Switch means comprising a first spiral wire, a even after the deforming pressure is removed. second spiral Wire coaxial with said first spiral wire, said second spiral wire being interposed between turns of said 5 References Cited in The file of this P211tent first spiral wire in non-contacting position, insulating UNITED STATES PATENTS tape wound over the outside of said spiral wires to hold said first and second spiral Wires in said interposed non- 2843694 Bertaux July 1958 contacting position, an outer weatherproof jacket cover- FOREIGN PATENTS ing said insulating tape and at least one plug adapted to 10 be placed in the open end of said switch means, said 274148 Great Bntam June 1927 

